Texas lands commitment from prized recruit Avery Bradley
Guard Avery Bradley’s commitment to sign a basketball letter-of-intent with the University of Texas in November could be the second step toward coach Rick Barnes’ most impressive recruiting class to date.
Bradley, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Findlay College Prep in Nevada, was the sensation of the 2008 summer circuit, most notably in August at the Nike Global Challenge in Portland, Ore., where he was selected the most outstanding player of a star-studded group.
He is known for his quickness and leaping ability, averaged 25.7 points as a junior and is also regarded as the best perimeter defender in the class of 2009. He reportedly bested several of the country’s top guard prospects this summer, including John Wall, who some rank as the top point guard in the country.
UCLA coach Ben Howland said Bradley, who is from Tacoma, Wash., reminds him of former Bruins guard Russell Westbrook, the fourth player taken in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A consensus top-10 player nationally, Bradley was called "the best competitor I’ve ever coached"
by AAU coach Garry Ward, who coached Bradley in Seattle. Bradley is scheduled to make his official visit to Texas on Sept. 26-27.
Texas already has a verbal commitment from Duncanville wing player Shaun Williams, regarded by many as the top senior in the state. The Longhorns are also among the final three (along with Southern Cal and Connecticut) for 6-7 Jordan Hamilton of Compton (Dominguez High), Calif., who is ranked fifth nationally among all recruits by Rivals.com.
Ward said Thursday that Bradley and Hamilton have formed a close bond and that he expects Hamilton to commit to Texas by the weekend.
None of the three approach the magnitude of former UT stars Kevin Durant or T.J. Ford, and Barnes signed four players (Royal Ivey, Brian Boddicker, Brandon Mouton and James Thomas) who, beginning in 2001, were the backbone of his program for four years.
But if all qualify academically, Bradley, Williams and Hamilton would be regarded nationally as the most well-known group Barnes has signed in one class.
